December 2012 Archives

The Air Force Armed Forces Bowl practice update is presented by LOWES, www.lowes.com.

Air Force completed its practices today for the Armed Forces Bowl. The team practiced at Kennendale High School for about one hour. The team is scheduled to go to several bowl functions today and tomorrow will participate in a press conference at the Omni Hotel. The Falcons take on Rice on Saturday, Dec. 29, at 10:45 a.m. CT at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

The following Air Force Bowl practice update is presented by LOWES. To see more information click on the following link: www.lowes.com.

With a "white" Christmas greeting the schools from Houston and Colorado in Fort Worth Tuesday, the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl practice schedules for Rice and Air Force have changed for Wednesday (December 26). Both schools will practice at the indoor practice facility on the campus of TCU in Fort Worth. Rice, which arrived in Fort Worth today after traveling from Houston, will practice first Wednesday at the TCU indoor facility at 10:30 a.m. (CST) followed by Air Force at 12:30 p.m.

The Falcons, who are playing in their fourth Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, arrived Monday in Fort Worth. Air Force has practiced the past two days at the TCU indoor practice facility next to Amon G. Carter Stadium where Air Force plays Rice Saturday at 10:45 a.m.

For Thursday, Air Force will practice at Kennedale High School ((901 Wildcat Way-Kennedale 76060-5848) starting at 11:15 a.m. Rice will remain at TCU with a scheduled workout at the indoor facility starting at 11 a.m.

In addition to Wednesday's practices, both Air Force and Rice will attend the evening's welcome reception at Billy Bob's in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards starting at 6 p.m. Thursday's schedule features a visit to Cook's Children's Hospital visit followed by team dinners and comedy show "fun".

The following Air Force practice update is presented by LOWES. For more information, click on to the following link: www.lowes.com.

The Falcons arrived in Fort Worth today. All but six players made it on time for practice at TCU's indoor practice facility. The six that missed practice due to flight problems did finally arrive tonight and the entire team is now here in the Metroplex. The Falcons worked out for about 90 minutes today after a pre-practice lift. The team will practice at TCU again tomorrow, Dec. 25, before a final decision is made about where they will practice on Dec. 26-27. Air Force is making is sixth consecutive bowl appearance and takes on Rice on Saturday, Dec. 29, at 10:45 a.m. CT at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Air Force daily practice updates will be available each day on the Air Force Blog. The Falcons will practice the first two days, Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 24-25, at TCU. The practice site for the last two days of practice, Dec. 26-27, is scheduled for Kennendale High School. The Falcons are scheduled to arrive in Fort Worth tomorrow, Dec. 24.

The Air Force football team will wear a specially designed uniform for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl that was inspired by the Air Force's B-2 Spirit and F-22 Raptor aircrafts. The helmet logo is the top view of a B-2 Spirit aircraft. The name on the back of the even numbered jerseys will have F-22 Raptor while the odd numbered jerseys will have B-2 Spirit in place of the name. The team used the uniforms for the Navy game earlier this season.

Joe Theismann, an entrepreneur and former star quarterback for the Washington Redskins, has been named the keynote speaker of the 2012 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Team Kickoff Luncheon, presented by the Omni Fort Worth Hotel and American Airlines. Held at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, the luncheon will take place at noon (CT) on Friday, Dec. 28, the day prior to the 10th anniversary of the postseason bowl game. American's sponsorship stems from its long-standing support for military, veterans and their families.

A 1971 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Joe Theismann received All-American honors and led the Fighting Irish to consecutive Cotton Bowls and was runner-up to Jim Plunkett in the Heisman Trophy balloting. In 2003, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

After turning down offers from the Minnesota Twins and Miami Dolphins, Theismann began his professional career in the Canadian Football League, spending three years with the Toronto Argonauts before joining the NFL's Washington Redskins in 1974. From his humble beginnings as a punt returner to his triumph as Super Bowl Champion, Theismann has experienced many of the challenges we all face in our constant quest to find success, by overcoming adversity.

General Norton A. Schwartz has been named the 2012 recipient of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl's Great American Patriot Award. The award will be presented by Armed Forces Insurance, the sponsor of the award and the official insurance partner of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

General Schwartz served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. until his retirement on August 12, 2012. As Chief, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of 680,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian personnel serving in the United States and overseas. While a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he also functioned as a military adviser to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President.

There are several connections between Rice, the opponent in the 2012 Bell Helcopter Armed Forces Bowl, and Air Force.

AIR FORCE - RICE CONNECTIONS

•

Ken Hatfield coached at both Rice and Air Force during his career. He led the Falcons to a 26-32-1 mark from 1979-83 ... Hatfield led the turnaround at Air Force, leading the Falcons to back-to-back bowl games while posting an 8-5 mark in 1982 and a 10-2 mark in 1983 ... The 1982 bowl game was the first for Air Force in 11 years dating back to the 1971 Sugar Bowl ... Hatfield also brought Falcon Legend Fisher DeBerry to the Academy as an assistant ... DeBerry replaced Hatfield and coach the Falcons from 1984-2006, compiling a 169-109-1 mark ... Hatfield was head coach at Rice from 1994-2005 and posted a record of 56-89-1.

•

Rice offensive coordinator and running backs coach John Reagan was the offensive line coach at Air Force for Fisher DeBerry from 2003-04 ... Air Force led the conference and was ranked fourth nationally in rushing each year Reagan coached at Air Force ... The Falcons averaged 280.6 yards per game in 2003 and 277.4 in 2004.

•

Rice quarterback Taylor McHargue and Air Force receiver Drew Coleman were high school teammates at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park, Texas. The two have continued a close friendship since their playing days.

•

Brandon Hamilton of Rice and Chris Miller of Air Force each attended Copperas Cove High School in Copperas Cove, Texas ... Bryce Callahan of Rice and Colton Huntsman of Air Force each attended Cypress Woods High School in Cypress, Texas ... James Radcliffe of Rice and Alex Ludowig of Air Force each attended Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, Texas.

•

Rice has two players that are transfers from Air Force. Trevor Caswell of Stony Point, Texas, and Ryan Pollard of Arlington, Texas, each began their careers at Air Force before transfering. Pollard saw action in four games as a freshman in 2011 at Air Force.